Impacts of COVID-19 Pandemic on Distance Learning Courses at the Federal University of Amazonas (UFAM)

Abstract

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education has also affected distance learning courses (DLC), either by the interruption of face-to-face activities or by the individual conditions of the students. The present study aimed to diagnose the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on aspects related to health, academic performance and motivation of DLC/UFAM students. An online form (Google Forms) was used for the data collection on social, health and perception of the return to face-to-face activities of distance education students. Academic performance was assessed by the grades report of subjects taken in 2019/2 (before the pandemic) and 2020/1 (beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic). The majority of distance education students from UFAM were women, brown skin and aged between 25 to 40 years old. In June 2020, about 10% of participants tested positive for COVID-19 and most were concerned about the possibility of contamination by the disease when they answered that they would not participate in face-to-face activities during the pandemic. The average pass rate in courses in the semester taken during the pandemic it was 16% higher than in the previous semester. Students rated positively the suspension measures of face-to-face activities and motivation was the main element associated with permanence and good performance in the courses. The monitoring data served as support to the Distance Education Center – DEC/UFAM pedagogical team and course coordinators for the identification of students with difficulties, individual monitoring of cases and the realization of personalized solutions.

Keywords: Monitoring COVID-19. Health indicators. Face-to-face meetings. Pandemic impacts. Academic achievement.